PWHL Notebook – December 20

After a week-long international break, the PWHL schedule resumed last Tuesday. Here’s a look back at this past week’s games.

Tue. Dec. 16 – Goldeneyes 2, Charge 1

Vancouver netminder Kristen Campbell earned her first win of the season, making 33 saves to help lead her team to a third consecutive home ice victory, the Goldeneyes becoming the first team in PWHL history to win each of its first three inaugural home games. 

A crowd of 9,250 fans attended the game at Pacific Coliseum. Jenn Gardiner, a native of Surrey, B.C. netted the game winner, beating Ottawa goalie Gwyneth Philips on a partial breakaway. Katie Chan had opened the scoring for Vancouver, batting the puck out of mid-air. The Charge’s lone goal was scored by Anna Shokhina, ending the team’s five-period scoring drought.

“For this to be our home barn with so many fans and to see them travelling long distances to be part of the Goldeneyes fan base, it’s indescribable,” Gardiner said to reporters.

Wed. Dec.17 – Victoire 2, Sceptres 1

The 2025-26 edition Takeover Tour opened in Halifax, and the sellout crowd of 10,438 at Scotiabank Centre was treated to a nail-biting game that needed a shootout to decide the winner. Toronto’s Emma Maltais appeared to have scored in overtime on a breakaway, but the goal was disallowed when defender Renata Fast, interfering to prevent Jessica DiGirolamo from catching up to Maltais, was assessed a penalty.

Marie-Phillip Poulin was the only player to score in the shootout, leading Montreal to a third win in a row, and second versus Toronto in as many games. Anna Kjellbin of the Sceptres and Maya Labad of the Victoire each scored their first goal of the season.

 “It was amazing to see the young girls and boys in the crowd wearing our jerseys, saying our names, and wanting our autographs,” said Montreal coach Kori Cheverie, a native of New Glasgow, N.S. “It’s just extremely special. I remember when I was that age, there weren’t any girls’ teams to play on in Pictou County, and now that we’re seeing so many associations and girls all over Nova Scotia and the other Atlantic provinces – I think I saw a Newfoundland flag somewhere tonight.

I think that it’s just so important for these meaningful moments to happen in hockey and for our sport to continue to grow.” 

Wed. Dec. 17 – Fleet 2, Sirens 0

Boston set a franchise record winning its fifth straight game, as the Fleet blanked the New York Sirens on the heels of a 33-save performance from Aerin Frankel, her third shutout in five games. Ella Huber opened the scoring on a power play, tallying the only goal that Boston would need. Liz Schepers had the Fleet’s other marker, potting a rebound after teammate Jamie Lee Rattray made a fine effort to keep the play alive.

Kayle Osborne stopped 19 of 21 shots in a losing effort for New York.

Wed. Dec. 17 – Torrent 4, Charge 1

Seattle was boosted by a top line of Alex Carpenter centring Julia Gosling and Hilary Knight, the trio combining for three goals and seven points to lead the Torrent to victory. Goalie Hannah Murphy was a mere 39 seconds away from a shutout before Ottawa’s Rebecca Leslie got her team on the board.

Sanni Ahola became the first Finnish goalie in PWHL history to appear in a game, stopping 20 of 23 shots directed at her.   

“Snake bitten is probably a good word to describe our offense right now,” Leslie said following Ottawa’s second straight loss in the Pacific Northwest.  “It would be different if we didn’t have scoring chances. We’re getting into the scoring areas; we’re just not getting the bounces going our way. We’re in the right places and eventually, it’s going to come.”

Fri. Dec. 19 – Frost 5, Fleet 2

Minnesota ended Boston’s five-game winning streak, thumping its opponents in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Grand Casino Arena. Kendall Coyne Schofield, Dominique Petrie and Britta Curl-Salemme staked the Frost to a 3-0 lead before the Fleet sparked a mini-rally.  Olivia Mobley and Riley Brengman scored 24 seconds apart to keep Boston in the game.

The Frost, however, sealed the victory with a pair of empty-netters. Nicole Hensley earned her third straight victory making 27 saves.

Around the league

Team USA defeated Canada twice in Edmonton to complete a four-game sweep of the Rivalry Series. Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips had both wins in goal for the Americans. Minnesota’s Taylor Heise registered one goal and eight assists to lead all scorers in the series…The Takeover Tour continues Sunday in Chicago when Ottawa plays Minnesota at Allstate Arena…

The Women’s Euro Hockey Tour between Finland, Czechia, Sweden and Switzerland wrapped up with six games between the countries from Dec. 10-12. Alina Muller of the Boston Fleet registered two goals and three assists for Switzerland…The PWHL Players Association recently elected its newest officers. Laura Stacey (Montreal) is the new president, Lee Stecklein (Minnesota) is the new vice-president, Savannah Harmon (Toronto) is the new treasurer, and Hayleigh Cudmore (retired) is the new secretary.  Also, each of the eight teams has one newly-elected player representative.